How I beat the CA fumes...

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Timbo

Timbo

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Joined
Jan 4, 2008
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1,188
Location
Kill Devil Hills, NC USA.
I read so many posts where folks complain about the CA fumes, that I thought I'd share what I do to beat that problem. First, let me say the best way is to ware a chemical absorbing mask. I don't do that...I probably should but I don't...my guess is most folks reading this don't either.

My easy fix is to use a floor standing fan set on the lowest setting. When I'm gluing in tubes, I sit at my table saw, I place the fan about 5 feet away, blowing from my left to right. The CA fumes are blown away to my right before reaching my nose.

When applying CA at the lathe, I place the fan several feet behind, and to my left. Again, the fumes are gently blown away from me. I don't even get a whiff of CA fumes when I use the fan setup.

Give it a shot if you have a floor fan you can steal away to the shop.
 
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I have been using this exact technique for years...it works great. Once in a while I will forget the fan while CA finishing and immediately get the (not so) gentle reminder to the eyes and nose. Highly recommended.
 
I have gone one step further. I use the fan method, WITH a mask but on top of that my husband installed a bathroom ventilation fan that is vented to the outside. The fan blows the fumes to the ventilation unit and out they go!
Alice
 
Good job Alice! You're doing it right. I would have to have a hole bored in my cement foundation to do that. I'm committed the shop in my next house will NOT be in the basement. Actually, I don't even want my next house to have a basement. We live in the northeast now. The good thing about a basement shop is the temperature never gets above 77 in the Summer, or drops below 65 in the Winter. We'll be moving a little further south...probably NC. Hopefully the heating and cooling bill for the new shop wont be crazy.
 
been using a fan works for me because i have a larger shop for it to dissipate in, its still there and thought of putting in a range hood vented outside, i figure this will work for pouring
pr also getting those fumes out of the shop also.
 
When the severe flu like allergies with chest pains hit, you can't go back to "just a fan". A good face mask, a fan, a good DC system too, all preceded with a good allergy tablet or two before finishing a pen.

For me, I went 2 1/2 years with no problems and then over the course of about 2 months, went from a slight sniffle to a little more drainage and two mild cold like allergy symptom to a full fledge flu like symptom. I can make a pen and stay fine for about 4 to 6 hours and then when it starts, it comes on like a ton of bricks unless I do as mentioned in the first paragraph.

I tried several finishes and they did not measure up for me so I either had to quit or find a way to make it with CA. That is when I decided to install a DC system. I was in Japan at the time where finding a decent costing DC for even a pen making lathe was cost prohibitive and too noisy for close neighborhoods as in major cities in that country. I managed to find a Makita 3 inch DC system and enclose it in a sound deadening chamber and enclose all duct work in a layer of loose carpet. It cut down on the sound and provided the collection needed to help with keeping fumes and CA dust down. And of course I used a dual canister mask, and fan, and kept a damp towel close by to get the dust off of my sleeves and hands. Oh, forgot the allergy pill before. I did this for about 2 years. I haven't been able to set my shop up back here in the States yet.
 
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When I told my husband what I wanted he said the same thing! He said," But I will have to drill a hole in the foundation!" My response was " So what's your point?"

He he! Since I have the vent he must really love me!
Alice






Timbo said:
Good job Alice! You're doing it right. I would have to have a hole bored in my cement foundation to do that. I'm committed the shop in my next house will NOT be in the basement. Actually, I don't even want my next house to have a basement. We live in the northeast now. The good thing about a basement shop is the temperature never gets above 77 in the Summer, or drops below 65 in the Winter. We'll be moving a little further south...probably NC. Hopefully the heating and cooling bill for the new shop wont be crazy.
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